Well this didn’t take long. No sooner did the 2011 Aprilia Tuono V4 show up sporting signs of an anti-lock braking system and rumors of a traction control system, do we know hear rumblings from Italian site OmniMoto about the 2011 Aprilia RSV4 getting similar treatment. Whether its an informed postulation or idle speculation, Aprilia seems certain to offer ABS and traction control on the Aprilia RSV4, as it logically aims to compete with the offerings from Ducati and BMW.

Knowing that Aprilia is developing such packages for the Tuono V4, it’s a trivial step to add ABS and traction control to the RSV4. With BMW offering ABS and traction control on the S1000RR as an added option, and Ducati featuring DTC on the Superbike 1198S, Aprilia would be the only manufacturer (if you don’t count KTM) at the $15k-$21k price point not offering these features in 2011.

It’s not clear at this time where ABS and traction control will land in model range, meaning whether the base RSV4 R or upscale RSV4 Factory will get the options as standard. It’s possible that these features will come as an add-on, allowing 2010 owners to upgrade their bikes as well.

As always time will tell on this one, but whether your like your sport bikes au naturel or gizmofied, it seems the way of the future for performance bikes to get an increasing amount of electronics and rider aids.

Give it a set of lockable hard bags and I’m in, for the ultimate sport-tourer!

Grimmy

Yes it is the way things are going. But I like nailing a corner and knowing it was me that made the bike go around the corner that quick, not the electronics. In saying that I will be putting a Bazzaz Zfi-TC on my RSV4F to get a better idea of what it is like to have traction control. And the aids won’t compensate for stupidity. I just hope that if Aprilia do bring out ABS and TC for the RSV4 that it is available as a retro kit for the people that brought the first batch.